Dowleswaram barrage to get ₹124-cr facelift under DRIP-II
After years of safety concerns and neglect, authorities have planned a major facelift for the historic Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)-II.
Engineers first built the structure in 1852 under Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton to prevent famine. They replaced it with the present barrage in the 1970s. The barrage now serves as a lifeline for the Godavari delta. It irrigates about 10.13 lakh acres across the eastern, western, and central delta regions. It also supplies drinking water to hundreds of villages. However, poor maintenance over the past seven years has weakened the structure.
The barrage spans four arms — Dowleswaram, Ryali, Madduru, and Vijjeswaram — and includes 175 gates. Experts raised serious concerns nearly five years ago. They warned that 117 gates had weakened. They also found corrosion in several bottom plates. Key components such as iron wire ropes, lifting systems, and rollers had also deteriorated.
The State government took note of the situation and decided to begin restoration under DRIP-II. Officials estimated the cost at ₹124.34 crore. The Centre and the State will share the cost in a 70:30 ratio. The State will contribute about ₹43.80 crore.
Officials have completed the tender process and secured approval from the State-level committee. Work is expected to begin soon. Authorities expect final clearance within a month. They plan to complete the project over two agricultural seasons.
Water Resources Department Headworks Executive Engineer Gangumalla Srinivasa Rao said the project will include repairs and upgrades. “We will repair the gates and introduce advanced electrical and computer-based systems,” he said. “These changes will improve efficiency and safety.”
The department last carried out repairs in 2014 under delta modernisation works. It spent ₹31.77 crore but repaired only 64 gates.
Under the current plan, teams will replace damaged gates and renew rubber seals. They will carry out sandblasting to strengthen the structure. They will also replace 734 worn-out roller bearings. In addition, they will repair wire ropes, motors, and cranes.
Officials expect the overhaul to restore the barrage’s strength and improve its performance. They say it will ensure a steady water supply to farms and rural communities in the Godavari delta.